I've had PhotoShop Elements 4.0 for almost a year and unable to do the following. How do I figure it out?

Question

I send photographs into the PS, then I struggle to understand the instructions. It says one thing, I try it and doesn't even remotely come close to what I think it says. I just want to be able to cut out
the person/animal from my picture and add it to another picture.
It says to draw around what you want to save, then (again, I don't understand) move it to your destined picture. Yeah, so easy. I don't think so!

That picture of me with my buddy, ALF, was an episode of ALF dreaming he's on Gilligan's Island. BTW, I own a GI yahoo group.

Anyway, I open my pic. with Paint, cut around it, then add it to another pic.
I just have a real problem trying to avoid those ripples. I read the phonebook-sized instruction booklet and I started wondering what language was it in. I have XLN't grammar skills, spelling and speech. But following instructions -- help! I make efforts every single day, but I'm just as lost - if not more - afterwards.